During my blank class my friend Naomi shared her perspective on extracurriculars. “I don’t have time for sports this year; I’m focusing on my job!”
Her words sparked a moment of contemplation amid our discussion about the activities we had planned for the year. She, along with many of my other friends, have expressed similar ideas: that they are not participating in any school related clubs, sports, or activities.
This made me wonder, why are teens at Eastern losing interest in these things?
Many people continue to participate in extracurriculars,but generally, I believe most teens have changed their priorities. Instead of wanting to join organized sports teams or be a part of their school club communities, they are more interested in getting jobs and earning money. Almost every single teen, AKA my classmates, I’ve talked to this year has said they are looking to find jobs over the summer.
I think part of this is related to the academic drainage that school has on teenagers. After long hard days of school, many don’t want to have an extended school day to do a club or exercise with a challenging sport. Many kids do this in other ways such as going to local gyms like Edge or Planet Fitness. Getting a job is something that has clear-cut benefits, earning money.
Olivia Cardamone, a sophomore student, spoke to me about this topic.
“I played basketball freshman year of highschool, and when the season ended I knew I wasn’t going to do it next year. I was too tired to play most of the time and it wasn’t worth it for me to be there every day. Instead, I got a job at the restaurant I live by.”.
Adolescents and minors having a paying job during highschool has become a near-universal experience.
According to PubMed Central (PMC), adolescent children want to work to earn their own spending money to be able to buy the accouterments of adolescent life and take part in the often expensive leisure activities popular among their peers. Eastern students prove this to be true. .
Many parents, including my mother, think well of working high school students , however, there are risks to this trend.
Jobs can add stress to an adolescent’s life and therefore strip away the financial freedom that comes with childhood. It’s important for teens to learn how to be in a professional environment, but frankly, they don’t need to be working 5 times a week after school with countless tests, assignments, and studying they need to do afterwards. Money is important, but so is school.
Some parents are hesitant to let teens take on real-world responsibilities too quickly. But when it comes to the question of “Should high schoolers get jobs?”, it’s clear that allowing a teen a part-time job can bring lifelong benefits.
Kids can learn how to be professional and learn about the business world. They can learn valuable customer service skills. Allowing a teenager to work while still in high school allows parents to help guide a teen to make smart adult choices before they’re out in the world on their own.
However, before you jump right into searching for a job this young, you still have to consider that there is a bigger picture to working at this age. Money does not trump school, so remember your worth ethic, before you burn yourself out too soon.
